Monday, March 12, 2007

New Departmental Store for Penangites next to G Hotel

PENANGITES can look forward to another new departmental store opening in the city.

The multi-level store will be located in the new RM83mil wing of Gurney Plaza, adjacent to the present shopping complex and behind the newly opened G Hotel.

Gurney Plaza Sdn Bhd director Phuah Choon Meng said construction of the seven-storey building facing Jalan Kelawei would be completed by end of next year.

“The new wing, with 150,000 sq ft of retail space, will be able to accommodate a new departmental store to be managed by an anchor tenant and 83 shoplots,” he said after the groundbreaking ceremony at the project expansion site yesterday.

Phuah said both the new and old wings would be inter-connected for shoppers' convenience. To cater to the bigger shopping crowd, there would be an additional 800 parking bays.

He added that the expansion reflected the firm’s confidence in the island, which was already a popular tourist destination, as a regional centre for retailing.

The first phase of Gurney Plaza, built six years ago, cost RM250mil and has 700,000 sq ft of prime retail space.

Phuah said about 180,000 shoppers throng-ed the complex weekly during the year-end peak season.

“During that one week period, an average 25,700 people visited the complex each day. This reflects consistent high demand for local and international brands sold at the outlets,” he noted.

Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon, the guest-of-honour at the groundbreaking ceremony, said Gurney Plaza had made the Gurney Drive more famous and lively.

“Future plans for the area will be more organised after the completion of the proposed Penang Outer Ring Road. Four lanes will be constructed, alternating between parks and boulevard. Gurney Plaza will remain as the centre of attraction,” he said.

He commended the complex manage- ment for providing “an avenue for people to enjoy food, shop and lepak (relax) in a positive way.”